Handle-bar.



Patent ed Aug. 27, I90I. J. HULLT.

HANDLE BAR.

(Application filed May 28, 1901.\

(No Model.)

: NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN HULLT, OF HOOD RIVER, OREGON.

HANDLE-BAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 681,325, dated August27, 1901. Application fil ed May 28, 1901. Serial No. 62,279. (Nomodel.)

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J OHN I-IULLT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hood River, in the county of Wasco and State of Oregon, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Handle-Bars; and I dohereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to handle-bars for velocipedes, bicycles, andmachines of kindred nature, and has for its object to provide novelmeans for compensating for jar and vibration incident to traveling overrough roads and uneven surfaces, whereby the fatigue on a long journeyis reduced to a minimum amount and soreness of the arms in a measureobviated.

The invention deals more particularly with the class of handle-barsprovided with a spring disposed to take up vibration and appertains tothe mountings and connections,which hereinafter will be moreparticularly set forth, illustrated, and finally claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a handle-barembodying the invention. Fig. 2isavertical central section. Fig. 3 is ahorizontal section on the line X Xof Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspectiveview of the upper end portion of the handle-bar stem. Fig. 5 is aperspective View of the bearingclamp.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

The handle-bar 1 may be of any design or pattern and is mounted foroscillation in a bearing-clamp 2, applied to the stem 3, which issecured within the headtube 4 of the frame of a bicycle, Velocipede, orlike machine. The stem 3 is tubular, and its lower end 4 is made conicalfor cooperation with an expanding-nut 5, by means of which the stem issecured within the head-tube 4 in an adjusted position. Theexpanding-nut 5 is formed with a flaring rim 6 to embrace the conicalend 4 of the stem, so as to be spread thereby, the rim being slotted toadmit of the separated parts being moved outward and clamped against theinner walls of the headtube 4 in the usual manner. The washer 7 closesthe upper end of the stem 3 and is apertured for the passagetherethrough of the tie-rod 8, by means of which the expandingnut istightened and loosened. An opening 9 is formed in a side of the stemnear its upper end, and lugslO and 11 project laterally from the stem inline with the opening9 and at the ends thereof. These lugs aretransversely apertured for the passage of the machine screws, bolts, orfastenings 12, by means of which the parts of the bearing-clamp aresecured in place.

The handle-bar 1 is reinforced at a middle point by means of a sleeve13, soldered or otherwise attached thereto, and a split collar 14 isclamped thereon and is formed with an odstanding arm 15, which projectsinto the stem 3'through the opening 9 and has its inner end formed withan elongated opening 16, through which the tie-rod 8 passes. This collar14 is clamped to the reinforced part ofthe handle-bar by means of a bolt17, passing through openings in the outturned ends 18 of the collar. Byloosening the bolt or fastening 17 the offstanding ends of the collarwill separate and release the handle-bar, which can be turned to anydesired angular posi tion, and after being adjusted a retightening ofthe bolt or fastening 17 secures the handle-bar against displacement. Aspreviously intimated, the handle-bar is mounted for free oscillation inthe members of the bearingclamp, and it is held in a normal position bysprings 19 and 20, located in the stem 3 above and below the arm 15 andmounted upon the rod 8. These springs are under tension and are of anydesired strength. The arm 15 is held between the inner-or proximal endsof the springs 19 and 20, washers 21 being interposed between the arm 15and springs, so as to receive the end thrust of the said springs andprevent catching of their terminals in the opening 16. The arm 15 beingheldrbetween the springs 19 and 20 and clamped to the handle-bar,whichis mounted so as tobscillate freely, it is manifest that jar andvibration of the machine are compensated and taken up by the springs andprevented from being transmitted to the hands and arms of the rider,

which is a desideratum when passing over rough roads and especially whenmaking a long run.

The hearing'olamp is composed of similar parts, each comprising a cup 22and a jaw 23, the latter being formed so as to snugly embracea side ofthe stem 3. The meeting edges of the cups are halved together, as shownat 24, and portions of the cups are cut away at and 26 to admit of thepassage of the projecting parts 15 and 18 of the clamp-collar. The partintermediate of the cup 22 and jaw 23 is transversely apertured for thepassage of the fastenings 12, by means of which the complementary partsof the bearing-clamp are secured and gripped upon opposite sides of thestem 3. The ends of the clamp-collar are shaped to provide cones 26, andthe ends of the cups are channeled, as at 27, to form, with the cones26, races for the balls 28, by means of which the friction between thehandle bar and its bearings is reduced to the smallest amount possible.The parts of the bearing-clamp coming upon opposite sides of the stem 3,clamp-collar 14, and reinforcement 13 prevent lateral displacement ofthe handle-bar with reference to the stem and head 2, while admitting ofthe free oscillation of the handle-bar to permit the springs 19 and 20to take up vibration and jolt and prevent transmission thereof to thehands and arms of the rider.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is-- 1. In aspring handle-bar, a stem having a side opening, and offstanding lugs atthe ends of the said opening and in line therewith, a compensatingspring within the stem, a bearing-clamp composed of similar parts,fasten ings for securing said parts together and to the said stem bypassing through the offstanding lugs thereof, and a handle-bar mountedin the bearing-clamp and having a projecting part to enter the stem andcooperate with the compensating spring, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

2. In a spring handle-bar, a stem, a compensating spring, a handle-barhavingits middle portion reinforced, a clamp-collar fitted upon thehandle-bar and having a projecting part for cooperation with thecompensating spring, the ends of the clamp-collar being cone-shaped, anda bearing-clamp composed of similar parts, each consisting of a cup anda jaw, the jaws embracing opposite sides of the stem and the cups beinghalved at their meeting edges and embracing the ends of the clamp-collarand handle-bar reinforcement and grooved to provide raceways inconjunction with the cone-shaped ends of the clampcollar for thereception of balls, substantially as set forth;

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnessess.

JOHN HULLT. [n s] Witnesses:

WALDEMAR SETON, JOHN NORELLi

